American Idol, annie get your gun, behind the proscenium, broadway manka, Kelly Clarkson, kryle lendhoffer, manka bros., NASCAR, urinetown, ruben studdard, carrie underwood, khan manka, Ben Silverman, Fantasia, male theater group

Robert Blanton’s Straight Male Theater Group

I must admit that I was appalled.  Appalled, and then fascinated.  I was thumbing through Backstage West while sipping a Green Tea Frappuccino at Starbucks (oh, this is a horrid vice, but the Green Tea is so good – except I find that I’m getting…

Chekhov’s Platonov

This week I had the pleasure to sit down with Heinrich Mantle, the director of the upcoming Manka Black Box theatrical treat Platonov by Anton Chekhov.  Mantle has challenged audiences for three decades with his deconstruction and recomposition of many of our most beloved classics. …

Kyrle Lendhoffer Has Taken Ill

Kyrle Lendhoffer’s column, Behind The Proscenium, will not appear this week.  Mr. Lendhoffer took ill at a preview of Tennessee Williams’ lost play Haunted Alligators and was hospitalized.  He is expected to make a full recovery.  Everyone at Manka Bros. wishes him the best. Here…

Simon Ambrose – Graveyards vs. Mars

This week I had the pleasure of talking to Simon Ambrose.  Intense.  Forceful.  Unique.  Not just words, but an apt description of someone who is bound to become a theatre great. His most recent work, Monkey Spanking Time won several national awards.  His newest work,…